Bayern Munich boss and former Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany has named Barcelona legend Ronaldinho as his toughest opponent over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. While Kompany recognized Ronaldo and Messi as the ‘best’ players, he believes Ronaldinho impressed him the most from what he saw in one game.
Vincent Kompany made a name for himself at Anderlecht and Hamburger SV before joining Manchester City in 2008. The Belgian represented the Cityzens for 11 seasons, making 360 appearances across all competitions, helping them win 12 trophies, including four Premier League titles.
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During his storied career as a player, Kompany faced numerous superstars, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The former was recently questioned by children from the Bayern fan club on the toughest opponent he has faced as a defender, to which he replied (via MARCA):
“There were many, but there was one who impressed me more than any other. It was Ronaldinho, do you know him? Of course, Messi and Ronaldo are incredibly good, they are probably the best players, but from what I saw in one game, it was Ronaldinho.”
Ronaldinho established himself as one of the greatest players of all time during his senior career between 1998 and 2015. The Brazilian was renowned for his dribbling, creativity, and free-kicks, and represented the likes of Barcelona, PSG, and AC Milan. Additionally, he recorded 236 goals and 183 assists in 647 appearances across all competitions, notably winning the 2005 Ballon d’Or.
“I think he would love to go there” – Former Manchester United assistant believes Cristiano Ronaldo would like to play alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami
Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen reckons Cristiano Ronaldo would love to join Inter Miami in the future and play alongside Lionel Messi. Meulensteen, who once coached Ronaldo more than a decade ago, also believes Ronaldo would be a success in the MLS with the right team around him.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arguably the two greatest players of all time. While they shared an intense rivalry during their tenures at Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, both superstars have never had the opportunity to play alongside each other.
Meulensteen told BetGoat (as per Yahoo Sports):
“Cristiano Ronaldo could continue to succeed in MLS, without any problem. With the right team and players around him, 100%, he could do it. If they give him good passes, he will score. He could succeed in MLS, without a doubt.”
“Playing alongside Lionel Messi in Miami? It would be incredible. Honestly, it would be fantastic. They would be the biggest box-office games every week. Who wouldn’t want to see that?”
He added:
“Can you imagine Messi and Ronaldo playing on the same team in Miami? It’s a fantastic city. I think he would love to go there. Conversely, it would be incredible to rekindle the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo. Why not Los Angeles? I think Cristiano would probably move there because it’s very close to Hollywood. That’s probably his next destination.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently contracted with Saudi outfit Al-Nassr until the summer of 2027. The 41-year-old recently went on strike due to reported disagreements with the PIF over their transfer policies, but has since made himself available for their upcoming games.
Edited by Silas Sud